Northern California - BF East Bay ride: Calaveras-Palomares Sat. Feb 2

BF East Bay ride, Saturday Feb. 2, 10 am start from Sunol

You're all cordially invited to come out to the East Bay and join me on one of my favorite rides, starting in Sunol and heading over Calaveras Road, then back into Fremont and up to to Mission San Jose for lunch, then up Palomares Rd, into Pleasanton and down Foothill Rd back to Sunol.

Those so inclinced can then join me at Bosco's Bones & Brew (http://www.boscosbonesandbrew.com/) in beautiful downtown Sunol for a snack and maybe a nice recovery beverage. :)

We'll be starting in Sunol at 10 am, at the parking lot of the Sunol Glen School at the corner of Bond & Main Sts.

Then we'll head over Calaveras Road (average grade ~4-5%), down into Milpitas, back into Fremont and up Mission Blvd. to Mission San Jose.

We'll have a lunch break at Mission Coffee (http://www.fremontcoffee.com/) on Washington Blvd. which is at about the mile 26 point.

Then we'll have a nice long shallow descent down Mission Blvd (zoom!) and hang a right onto Niles Canyon Rd., then climb up Palomares Road (average grade ~ 6%, a couple of bits ~10-12% but happily they are short). Then a really nice descent down the other side of Palomares (a reasonably smooth, wide road with minimal turns and good sightlines - zoom zoom!), then up Dublin Canyon Rd. to Pleasanton and south on Foothill Rd back into Sunol.

As mapped out here, it'll be roughly 57 miles and around 4000 ft of climbing:
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/BikeForums-Calaveras-Palomares-ride

An option those who would like to make it quicker or easier: Once we reach Niles Canyon Rd. you can continue straight on Niles Canyon to Sunol rather than heading up Palomares. That would be about 37 miles total, and roughly 1700 ft of climbing.

There are many other options for the studly ones :p : up and back on Welch Creek Road; a loop up Sierra Rd and down Felter to re-join the route; or, at the north end of Palomares, instead of heading east on Dublin Canyon you can head west on Castro Valley Blvd, then north/east on Crow Canyon to Norris Canyon, then south on San Ramon Blvd which becomes Foothill. I can map those out as well.

I created a ride listing on bikejournal here:
SF East Bay ride, Calaveras/Palomares (http://www.bikejournal.com/ride.asp?rideID={7575CBDD-A8AE-4C16-8788-C613301D91E6**)

Hope you can make it !

- Jo.

Count me in as highly motivated! I like that route a lot.

Thanks for suggesting it!

!!!!COUNT ME IN!!!!!

Pete

Damn, that's a great route. Unfortunately, I'm starting my training for the Death Ride on the 2nd and will be riding with the team.

For those who want a bit more climbing, but not quite as intense as Welch Creek or Sierra, try Mill Creek (just north of the Mission) or Morrison Canyon (further north on Mission, pretty close to Niles Canyon). Both are single lane roads that really don't go anywhere (much like Welch Creek), don't have much traffic and both have pretty healthy climbs. Mill Creek dead ends at the regional park; Morrison Canyon deadends just past the wire-frame airplane model (radar testing station? yes, it's still there).

JB

Damn, I might be in LA that weekend. But if I am in town, I'll be there for it.

Put me down as an interested maybe, I might be out of town though.

Ok, put me in as a maybe. My plan was originally to drive down to LA for my monthly visit to dad, but I'm going to be down there for the TofC. MErider has her century to Santa Barbara ride the same day. I can't decide ... :(

Put me down for a probable. Team Alameda has a scheduled ride to Palomares the same day. We should be able to make it to Sunol by 10:00. I'm not leading and it depends on who is going, we do a no drop ride. Our usual route is Doolittle - thru San Leandro - up over Fairmont - Lake Chabot Rd. - Castro Valley Blvd - Dublin Grade - Foothill to Sunol then Palomares and reverse the route at Castro Valley Blvd it's about 63 miles, adding Calavares to it would make it a good ride. I might break off from TA and join you all.

I'll pass on Welsh Creek, but if I felt froggy might be coaxed into Sierra.
jw

I would like to join, but it will depend on my calendar.

Ok, I'm in. Good excuse to stay in town. Now, I just gotta decide if I should ride to the start, or drive there :eek:

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but as of Tuesday evening the weather forecast for Saturday calls for a 60% chance of showers.

Considering how unpredictable the weather is around here (case in point, last Saturday :rolleyes:) I'm playing wait & see.

If by Friday the forecast still shows a high chance of rain on Saturday & less so for Sunday, I might reschedule the ride to Sunday.

If this weekend is a washout, we'll do this again some other time.

Anyone thinking of doing the short route? It's piquing my interest. I think I'm going snowboarding on Sunday, so if I can get both things in on my birthday weekend, it'd be pretty neat. :)

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but as of Tuesday evening the weather forecast for Saturday calls for a 60% chance of showers.

Considering how unpredictable the weather is around here (case in point, last Saturday :rolleyes:) I'm playing wait & see.

If by Friday the forecast still shows a high chance of rain on Saturday & less so for Sunday, I might reschedule the ride to Sunday.

If this weekend is a washout, we'll do this again some other time.

We can always meet and do some posing at a coffee shop ... :D

We've instituted a new rule in our house.

No scratching a ride for weather, until the morning of the ride. :D

We plan on starting with you guys, but are going to do Welch Creek and Sierra and then back on Calaveras to Sunol. I have 12 weeks until the DMD staff ride. I need to find my climbing legs.

V.

Anyone thinking of doing the short route? It's piquing my interest. I think I'm going snowboarding on Sunday, so if I can get both things in on my birthday weekend, it'd be pretty neat. :)

Birthday weekend huh? I hope the weather clears. We have some celebrating to do! :beer:

I'm concerned about the weather. With my luck lately it'll be pouring. There is a conspiracy to keep me off my new ride. If it isn't the weather it's the need for a 5mm spacer that I don't have time to go get...

Today's forecast: 60% chance of rain on Saturday
Still, I'm hoping.

Gonna have to miss this one, I'm going to be in Tahoe this weekend. :D

What kind of pace will you be riding on Saturday?

Birthday weekend huh? I hope the weather clears. We have some celebrating to do! :beer:

Henry: You gonna join us (weather permitting)?

Gonna have to miss this one, I'm going to be in Tahoe this weekend. :D

Don't get snowed in! Or, on second thought, I hope you do get snowed in with fresh, dry powdery snow!

Gonna have to miss this one, I'm going to be in Tahoe this weekend. :D

Snowboard or Skiing??
I'm thinking you're a boarder....

Probably skiing, I've never boarded before. Although maybe I'll give it a try?

Probably skiing, I've never boarded before. Although maybe I'll give it a try?Whereabouts in the Tahoe area are you headed? I think I'm going to head to Boreal as my falling-down-a-lot destination.

Whereabouts in the Tahoe area are you headed? I think I'm going to head to Boreal as my falling-down-a-lot destination.

It's a small group of us, I think they mentioned either Kirkwood, Homewood, or Alpine.

It's a small group of us, I think they mentioned either Kirkwood, Homewood, or Alpine.Ah, nice. I basically chose Boreal for its closeness and cheapness (this is only my second time, and first time in California). I'll probably check out Kirkwood at some point, since it's not too much further away. You'll have to let me know how it is wherever you end up. :)

Erm... </threadjack>

What kind of pace will you be riding on Saturday?

It looks like we'll have a wide range of paces represented. :)

I'll likely be bringing up the rear so I plan to have lots of route sheets available for everyone, so if anyone wants to bomb on ahead they will likely not get lost. Plus they'll probably have company. Maybe I'll be the only one riding by myself. :rolleyes: :D

My pace on hilly rides works out to around 12-13 mph.

If anyone would like to go slower, I'll stay with 'em - I figure that's my responsibility as (ahem) fearless ride leader.

Right now, I am a strong maybe. It depends on the weather and time of my son's bball game is.

It's a small group of us, I think they mentioned either Kirkwood, Homewood, or Alpine.

Kirkwood's my favorite, It's "Wicked" fast, I'd stick with the ski's or bring a lot of tylenol...morphines better! :p

Have fun guys! I'm heading out to the Bay area next month and am planning to do this ride first. How'll you dress for a ride in these hills? Here in Montreal it's long johns with snow pants and neoprene booties, and of course my ski helmet and goggles :)

Have fun guys! I'm heading out to the Bay area next month and am planning to do this ride first. How'll you dress for a ride in these hills? Here in Montreal it's long johns with snow pants and neoprene booties, and of course my ski helmet and goggles :)

Hi SG !

Happily it's not as cold here as in Montreal, but it still can be chilly, temps this time of year average around 50 (F) during the day though it can sometimes get down into the 40's or up into the 60's.

Wool is my friend. I tend to wear lightweight wool layers which are easily added or removed if the temperature changes. This time of year I'll generally wear a lightweight wool long sleeve zip-neck turtleneck underneath a slightly heavier wool long-sleeve full zip turtleneck. That usually works fine unless it's really chilly, then I'll add a vest or lightweight jacket on top of that. I usually wear knickers with smartwool "microweight" wool tights over them, and two layers of thin wool socks. If it's really cold I'll have toe covers over my shoes.

Alternatively, armwarmers & legwarmers are a good bet around here for the changeable weather (I generally don't like how they feel which is why I go for the light wool layers, but to each his own).

HTH, - Jo.

Hey, I just checked the weather forecast, now it says no rain for Saturday, just cloudy.

But stay tuned. The forecast should change about five more times. :rolleyes:

Is there a list of peeps showing up? I'm thinking of bringing the fixed gear bike to see how much I can suffer on a longer ride.

Ah, nice. I basically chose Boreal for its closeness and cheapness (this is only my second time, and first time in California). I'll probably check out Kirkwood at some point, since it's not too much further away. You'll have to let me know how it is wherever you end up. :)

Erm... </threadjack>

For even Cheaper, slightly closer, and (in my opinion) better terrain, try out Donner Ski Ranch across the street from Sugar bowl and on the other side of the valley from the back side of Boreal. www.donnerskiranch.com . If I'm not at Squaw, I'm here.

Hmm, I'd love to join this ride but I think even 37 miles is pushing it as I haven't been on a bike in over three months. Hopefully the weather clears so I can at least get some base miles in.

We are going to ride the tandem on Saturday (on a less hilly ride), so I am out.

Have a great ride.

I'm thinking of bringing the fixed gear bike to see how much I can suffer on a longer ride.I thought about that ever so briefly. Being that it's geared for Flatville (and even too highly geared at that), though, I'd probably have to carry it up most of the inclines, so I decided it was not the best idea. ;)


For even Cheaper, slightly closer, and (in my opinion) better terrain, try out Donner Ski Ranch across the street from Sugar bowl and on the other side of the valley from the back side of Boreal. www.donnerskiranch.com . If I'm not at Squaw, I'm here.Cool, thanks. I'll have to check that one out as well.

I went to Donner once a (cough) few years ago and bought a mid week ticket. It was $4. Yes, FOUR DOLLARS.
Really small, not anything in teh way of long, or remotely steep runs. But cute as a bugs ear.

Hey. Rain is down to 40% chance for Saturday... at least in Contra Costa.
I'll bet it's just a trick to get my new bike all muddy.

No matter what the weather forecast is, I'll drive to the start. If it turns out to rain, let's just hang out in a coffee shop. What a better way to spend a rainy day with a bunch of other cyclists?

No matter what the weather forecast is, I'll drive to the start. If it turns out to rain, let's just hang out in a coffee shop. What a better way to spend a rainy day with a bunch of other cyclists?

That sounds good to me..either way ride or not I need to get out of Dodge.
Pete

Bah, if I drive all the freaking way out there, I'm riding even if it damn snows. :p

Bah, if I drive all the freaking way out there, I'm riding even if it damn snows. :p

We'll toast our Mochacchino's to ya while you negotiate the hilly moguls down Calaveras! :beer:

Looks like the rain is coming in late so I'm going to be there at the starting time no matter what it looks like and ride till it actually starts coming down. I'm excited about riding in the east bay for a change : )
Pete

So where is the actual meeting place?

From post #1 :



We'll be starting in Sunol at 10 am, at the parking lot of the Sunol Glen School at the corner of Bond & Main Sts.

Looks like the rain is coming in late so I'm going to be there at the starting time no matter what it looks like and ride till it actually starts coming down. I'm excited about riding in the east bay for a change : )
Pete

If it does rain on us, we'll just head for the nearest coffee shop, and practice our posing :D

Sorry to say that I have to weasel out tomorrow. Family obligations... Too bad, 'cause I love the route.

I'll catch up with you guys on the next one. Have a good ride!

Ah, you can't come out and play?

Come on, people. The proper reply is "If it does start raining on us, oh well, it's just water, it won't hurt us!"

Well, the weather report doesn't look promising at all! :p

So those of you on the fence, you're hereby excused and will be given a raincheck. :)

I'll still be there - I'm going to ride out to Sunol from home and my husband Lee is going to drive out. So we'll have our car there. (A gray Honda Element if anyone shows up).

Lee & I will still head out at 10 from the Sunol Glen School, but if the weather funks out early it might be a short ride, maybe to the top of Calaveras or to Ed Levin Park, turn around & head back.

Those of you traveling vast distances may want to save the gas money for another time.